Satan acts like a creeping dragon and then like a flying serpent. His first request seems mannerly and modest, as Semiramis desired of Ninus to reign but one day, and that day to do what she pleased - and in that day she cut off his head. That is sin Sin deceives man till man is hardened through its deceitfulness. It appears at first but little in the fountain, in the heart and thought. Then it bubbles into a stream of evil words; then it increases into a river of evil actions. Next it swells into a torrent and overflows till it drowns men in perdition. Thus it gradually destroys them.